Did Akshay Kumar step in to calm director-DoP feud during ‘Housefull 5’ shoot?

On its release day, 'Housefull 5' is already making waves—both on and off the screen. The Tarun Mansukhani directorial, which hit theatres worldwide today (June 6), has clocked an impressive Rs 8.02 crore (Sacnilk) in advance bookings, reflecting the massive anticipation surrounding the fifth installment of the hit comedy franchise. Industry estimates predict that the multi-starrer could rake in ₹18–20 crore (estimated figure) on its opening day alone.

But even before audiences got their first laugh, Mathrubhumi English learned of a behind-the-scenes clash that briefly disrupted the shoot. According to a source close to the production, a heated argument broke out between director Tarun Mansukhani and director of photography V. Manikandan during the filming of a song, an incident that escalated until lead actor Akshay Kumar intervened to calm tensions and get the shoot back on track.

According to a source close to the film, a verbal altercation broke out between the director and the director of photography (DoP) before the filming of the song ‘Qayamat’, sung by Neeraj Shridhar and Shruti Dhasmana. “The stars were ready to perform the dance, and the director, too, was ready to shoot it. However, it was a technical delay on the DoP’s team’s part that delayed the filming, claimed the source. “The song was being shot in the United Kingdom. It was freezing cold. While everyone was ready to begin the shoot, it was delayed because of a lightning glitch, leading to a verbal spat between Tarun and Manikandan,” claimed the source.

Furthermore, the source told us that it was sorted out after the film’s leading actor, Akshay Kumar, intervened in between. The source said, “Eventually, Akshay decided to step in, spoke with them, and calmed them down. After a brief halt, the shooting began again.”

The film, ‘Housefull 5’ features an ensemble cast comprising Akshay, Riteish Deshmukh, Abhishek Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Jackie Shroff, Nana Patekar, Shreyas Talpade, Fardeen Khan, Ranjeet, Johnny Lever, Jacqueline Fernandez, Nargis Fakhri, and Sonam Bajwa, among many others.

Backed by Sajid Nadiawala under his production house Nadiadwala Grandson, it is the fifth installment of the franchise, releasing nearly six years after its prequel, ‘Housefull 4’, which was released in 2019. It’s co-written by Farhad Samji, who directed ‘Housefull 4’ and Tarun, while the screenplay and story are by Sajid. The film’s plot is said to revolve around a chaotic whodunnit after a billionaire mysteriously dies on board a luxury cruise ship, as co-passengers team up to find the murderer.